The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1917. THE ALIEN ENEMY PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 72, 18 December 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1917. THE ALIEN ENEMY PROBLEM

The very fact that strong public indignation has been excited by the practically unimpeded escape of German prisoners from Motuihi Island raises a certain danger that Iho lesson of the affair may be partly lost. It is, of course, imperatively necessary that the guilty parties amongst those who'were responsible for keeping the prisoners in safe custody should be identified and punished. The Minister of Defence has already set in motion this machinery necessary to this end. But a full and searching inquiry is demanded, not only on this account, but in order that such measures may be adopted as will opposo the greatest possible obstacles to enemy action within New Zealand. The Government has taken the-right step in ordering a preliminary inquiry, upon the results of which further action will be based. Thrco military officers have been appointed as a Court to investigate and report upon the circumstances in which prisoners escaped from M<r tuilii, and whether the escape was attributable to neglect of duty on the part of any officer or other member of tho Defence Forces. Tho order of reference is wide cnougn to enable the Court to investigate not only the measures taken and neglected at Motuihi, but such matters as that of the suggested collusion between the German escapees and persons on the mainland, whi.iii certainly seems to havo been a clear possibility. This is well enough as

far as it goes, but it should be recognised that it is only a beginning, not merely in regard to certain persons who will presumably bo required to stand their trial .by court-martial, but in regard to larger questions and issues. On tho assumption, warranted by tho Government's action, that no attempt will bo made to shield or whitewash any guilty person, detail aspects of tho Motuihi affair affecting such persons may be regarded as removed for tho time being from tho region of comment. These matters may bo loft to a court-martial. But apart from their detail aspects lab events at Motuihi have opened tho whole question of the control and treatment of enemy aliens and ■memy sympathisers in this country. Rightly or wrongly, the humiliating lack of efficiency disclosed at Motuihi has strengthened a belief that the policy of the Government under this head falls distinctly short of what is necessary and advisable, iti the interests of common-senso precaution. Possibly the Government is now being subjected in «omo quarters to much more sweeping condemnation than the facts warrant. In considering the intolerable state of affairs disclosed at Motuihi it is only fair to note that a deal has been done to chcekma L ,c onemy action within tho borders of the Dominion, and particularly iu our seaports, and also that tho problem involved is in its total scone exceedingly complex and difficult. But these considerations strengthen instead of weakening the demand for a searching and comprehensive inquiry into the whole quostion of possible enemy activities within our borders and the adequacy of measures thus far taken to cope with and defeat such activities. An inquiry on these lines is desirable on all grounds. It would show precisely what weaknesses exist and how they may best be remedied.

In order that such an inquiry may serve its intended purpose- and that the findings reached may com--mand public confidence it . ; s obviously necessary that it should iio conducted by an independent Commission. The officers appointed to investigate and roport upon the circumstances of the escape from Motuihi are no doubt well qualified to carry out that duty, but it is necessary that inquiry should go. much further. Tho issue upon which the Motuihi affair has concentrated public attention is national and not Departmental in its scope. Tho Government should bo as ready to invite a general scrutiny and investigation of its policy towards enemy aliens as to institute proceedings against individuals accused of a dereliction of duty. One thing is as necessary as tho other in order that what is weak or faulty in our existing organisation may be remedied and public confidence strengthened. A Commission invested with independent authority and permitted unrestricted scope of inquiry into tho enemy alien problem in fill its aspects might not be able to conduct its investigations at all times in public. But its findings, provided it were so constituted as'to command public confidence, would provide an authoritative foundation for whatever reforms are necessary ?rid at the same time would justify measures already taken by the Government in so far as these are adequate and sound. By instituting an inquiry on these lines the Government would meet half way the demand which is unquestionably raised for more effective treatment of the enemy alien problem. It would disarm legitimate criticism and silence criticism that is unreasonable. Systematic inquiry by an independent Commission seems to be mi all grounds tho most hopeful method of seeking a remedy for a state of affairs which undoubtedly has given rise to grave uneasiness, and such an inquiry is all the more necessary and desirable since in some of the detail problems involved—notably that of dealing with the Dalmatians in North Auckland—we have made very little progress towards a solution after more than three years of war.